Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10N60/00—Superconducting devices
  • H10N60/01—Manufacture or treatment
  • H10N60/0268—Manufacture or treatment of devices comprising copper oxide
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
  • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
  • C04B35/00—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
  • C04B35/01—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxide ceramics
  • C04B35/45—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxide ceramics based on copper oxide or solid solutions thereof with other oxides
  • C04B35/4521—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxide ceramics based on copper oxide or solid solutions thereof with other oxides containing bismuth oxide
  • C04B35/4525—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxide ceramics based on copper oxide or solid solutions thereof with other oxides containing bismuth oxide also containing lead oxide
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
  • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
  • C04B35/00—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
  • C04B35/622—Forming processes; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
  • C04B35/64—Burning or sintering processes
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S505/00—Superconductor technology: apparatus, material, process
  • Y10S505/725—Process of making or treating high tc, above 30 k, superconducting shaped material, article, or device
  • Y10S505/727—Process of making or treating high tc, above 30 k, superconducting shaped material, article, or device using magnetic field
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S505/00—Superconductor technology: apparatus, material, process
  • Y10S505/775—High tc, above 30 k, superconducting material
  • Y10S505/776—Containing transition metal oxide with rare earth or alkaline earth
  • Y10S505/782—Bismuth-, e.g. BiCaSrCuO

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the preparation of a superconductive oxide body in the system bismuth-lead-calcium-strontium-copper-oxygen. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a process for producing a superconductive polycrystalline sintered body containing the superconductive phase Bi 2-y Pb y Ca2Sr2Cu3O 10 ⁇ z where y ranges from .1 to .5, preferably from .25 to .35, and most preferably it is .3, and z ranges from zero to less than 1. This phase or composition also is referred to herein as (2223).
• the c-axis of the Bi 2-y Pb y Ca2Sr2Cu3O 10 ⁇ z phase are oriented at least sufficiently parallel to each other so as not to differ significantly from a common direction, i.e. the c-axis of the (2223) phase are substantially parallel to each other.
• the present invention utilizes as a reactant, superconductive Bi2CaSr2Cu2O 8 ⁇ x where x ranges from 0 to .5.
• This superconductive reactant also is referred to herein as (2122).
• the present process for producing a solid sintered body containing oriented superconductive crystalline Bi 2-y Pb y Ca2Sr2Cu3O 10 ⁇ z phase where y ranges from .1 to .5 and z ranges from zero to less than 1 in an amount of at least 90% by weight of said body comprises the following steps:
• the present process for producing a solid sintered body containing oriented superconductive crystalline Bi 2-y Pb y Ca2Sr2Cu3O 10 ⁇ z phase where y ranges from .1 to .5 and z ranges from zero to less than 1 in an amount of at least 90% by weight of said body comprises the following steps:
• a superconductive powder comprised of the reactant Bi2CaSr2Cu2O 8 ⁇ x where x ranges from 0 to .5, i.e. (2122), is used.
• x has a value of 0.
• the (2122) powder should contain (2122) in an amount of at least 90% by weight of the powder and all other components which may be present in the (2122) powder should have no significant deleterious effect on the present process.
• the (2122) powder contains (2122) in an amount greater than 95%, or greater than 98%, by weight of the powder. More preferably, the (2122) powder is phase pure (2122) according to X-ray diffraction analysis.
• the (2122) powder has a zero resistance transition temperature, i.e. a temperature at which there is no electrical resistance, greater than about 70K, and preferably it is about 80K.
• (2122) material can be produced in a known manner by solid state reaction, i.e. firing an intimate mixture of the constituent oxides in an oxidizing atmosphere, for example, air, and cooling the reaction product in an oxidizing atmosphere.
• solid state reaction i.e. firing an intimate mixture of the constituent oxides in an oxidizing atmosphere, for example, air, and cooling the reaction product in an oxidizing atmosphere.
• the (2122) material is produced according to U.S. Serial No. 07/399,197 which discloses a process for producing a sinterable superconductive powder comprised of a composition represented by the formula Bi2CaSr2Cu2O x where x ranges from about 7.5 to about 8.5, which comprises providing a first mixture of calcium carbonate, strontium carbonate and copper oxide, firing said first mixture in air at a temperature at which no liquid forms until said carbonates decompose leaving no significant amount thereof resulting in a substantially combined Ca-Sr-Cu-oxide product, forming a second mixture comprised of said oxide product, bismuth sesquioxide and an alkali chloride solvent, said Ca-Sr-Cu-oxide product and bismuth sesquioxide being formulated to produce said superconductive composition, said alkali chloride solvent being selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride and combinations thereof, heating said second mixture to a reaction temperature at least sufficient to melt said chloride solvent, maintaining said reaction temperature continuously dissolv
• the (2122) material produced according to U.S. Serial No. 07/399,197 generally contains (2122) in an amount greater than 98% by weight of the material, and usually, it is phase pure (2122) according to X-ray diffraction analysis.
• the (2122) material is comminuted to produce a powder substantially comprised of monodispersed crystals of desired size, determined empirically, which enables the present reaction to be carried out.
• the (2122) powder has an average particle size ranging in its longest dimension up to 10 microns, and more preferably it is less than 2 microns. Conventional comminuting techniques can be used which have no significant deleterious effect on the resulting powder.
• an oxide product comprised of a mixture of Ca2Cu03 and Cu0 is used to form the mixture of reactants.
• this oxide product is comprised of a substantially uniform, or uniform, i.e. intimate, mixture of Ca2Cu03 and Cu0.
• a particulate mixture of calcium carbonate and copper oxide initially is formed which preferably is uniform or substantially uniform.
• the mixture is of a size, determined empirically, which enables production of the oxide product, and frequently ranges in size from submicron to 20 ⁇ m, preferably having an average particle size which is submicron.
• the mixture can be produced by conventional techniques which have no significant deleterious effect on the components.
• the components are wet milled at room temperature in distilled water, preferably with zirconia milling media, and then dried in air.
• the mixture is formulated to produce mole equivalents, or substantially mole equivalents, of calcium oxide and cupric oxide.
• the resulting mixture is fired in air at about atmospheric pressure at a temperature at least sufficient to decompose the carbonate but not so high as to form a significant amount of liquid.
• a significant amount of liquid would separate the components in areas of the mixture resulting in a significantly non-uniform product.
• firing temperature ranges from greater than about 850°C to less than about 950°C, and preferably it is about 925°C.
• Firing is carried out at least until no significant amount of the carbonate remains. In this firing, any cuprous oxide forms cupric oxide and the carbonate decomposes to calcium oxide and reacts with cupric oxide to form the oxide product comprised of a mixture of Ca2Cu03 and Cu0.
• the oxide product is cooled in air at about atmospheric pressure, and preferably, it is furnace cooled to room temperature.
• Ca2Cu03 and Cu0 are present in mole equivalents, or substantially mole equivalents, to each other.
• the oxide product contains no significant amount of, and preferably it is free of, calcium oxide and cuprous oxide.
• the oxide product is friable, and preferably, before it is mixed with the other reactants, it is lightly dry ground in a conventional manner, for example, by mortar and pestle, to produce a flowable powder, generally about 40 mesh (U.S. Screen Size).
• lead oxide powder is used and is satisfactory in the particle size range in which it is available commercially, which range, in average particle size from submicron to 10 ⁇ m.
• a slurry of the particulate mixture of the reactants comprised of the (2122) material, Ca2Cu03, cupric oxide and lead oxide in an organic liquid vehicle is formed.
• the reactants are used in amounts which will produce the superconductive (2223) phase of desired composition in the present process and such amounts are determined empirically.
• the mixture of reactants is formulated to produce (2223) and to include an excess amount of the oxide product comprised of the mixture of Ca2Cu03 and Cu0, or for convenience also referred to herein as "CaCu02".
• the excess amount of "CaCu02" should be sufficient to convert (2122) to the required amount of (2223) in the present process.
• Such excess amount of the "CaCu02” is determined empirically and depends largely on the fineness of the reactants. The finer the reactants, the greater is the contact therebetween and the less is the excess amount of "CaCu02” required to drive the reaction to form (2223).
• the reaction is as follows: Bi2CaSr2Cu20 8 ⁇ x + y Pb0+"CaCu02" + (excess "CaCu02") ⁇ Bi 2-y Pb y Ca2Sr2Cu30 10 ⁇ z + y /2Bi203 + (excess "CaCu02") Generally, from 1.1 to 1.75 moles of total "CaCu02" is used per mole of (2122) in the mixture of reactants.
• the amount of lead oxide depends largely on the particular amount of Pb desired in (2223).
• the organic liquid vehicle used in forming the slurry is one in which the particulate reactants can be effectively dispersed. Generally, it is comprised of a solution of organic liquid and dispersant. Generally, the liquid vehicle is one in which the reactants are inert or substantially inert, i.e. with which they do not react. Preferably, it is non-aqueous or contains no significant amount of water. Also, preferably, the organic liquid has a boiling point of less than 100°C, and preferably it is heptane.
• the dispersant is an organic material and should be soluble in the organic liquid. It need only be used in an amount which effectively aids in dispersing the reactants and such amount is determined empirically. Generally, the dispersant is used in an amount of less than 10%, preferably 5%, by volume of the total volume of slurry.
• the dispersant, or liquid vehicle should volatilize away from the cast body at an elevated temperature ranging up to 820°C leaving no amount thereof which would have a significantly deleterious effect on the transition temperature of the resulting sintered body. Such dispersants are commercially available.
• the particulate mixture of reactants is sufficiently uniformly dispersed or suspended in the slurry to enable sufficient magnetic alignment of the (2122) crystals along their preferred axis of magnetization to produce the present sintered body.
• the particulate mixture of reactants is uniformly, or substantially uniformly, suspended in the slurry.
• the particulate mixture of reactants is present in the slurry in an amount which enables the desired magnetic alignment of the (2122) crystals along their preferred axis of magnetization and such amount is determined empirically.
• the total content of reactants is less than 60% by volume, frequently ranging from greater than 30% by volume to 50% by volume, of the total volume of slurry.
• the reactants are admixed to produce a particulate mixture which is sufficiently uniform and is of a sufficiently fine size to carry out the reaction and sintering to produce the present superconductive (2223) body.
• the reactants are admixed to produce as intimate a mixture as possible without significant contamination to insure good contact.
• the reactants are wet milled and the resulting milled slip is dried in a dry gas.
• the reactants are milled in an organic liquid medium in which they are inert or substantially inert, i.e. with which they do not react.
• the liquid medium is non-aqueous or contains no significant amount of water.
• the liquid medium is comprised of a solution of organic liquid and a few drops of organic dispersant to aid milling.
• the organic liquid has a boiling point of less than 100°C, and preferably it is heptane.
• the dispersant is the same as to be used in forming the slurry.
• milling is carried out at about room temperature and zirconia milling media is used.
• the milled slip which usually flows like water, is dried in a dry gas with which it does not react, or does not react to any significant extent.
• the dry gas is nitrogen, air, or mixtures thereof.
• a dry gas herein, it is meant a gas containing 100 parts per million of water or less.
• Evaporation can be carried out at about atmospheric pressure or under a partial vacuum.
• evaporation is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 50°C to about 70°C.
• the resulting dry mixture and the present organic liquid vehicle can be admixed in a conventional manner, usually by milling, in amounts which produce the present slurry.
• milling is carried out at about room temperature and zirconia milling media is used.
• the particulate mixture of reactants is of a sinterable size determined empirically.
• the (2122) powder generally has an average particle size ranging in its longest dimension to less than 10 microns, and preferably it is less than 2 ⁇ m, and the remaining reactants preferably have an average particle size ranging from submicron to 2 ⁇ m.
• the (2122) powder is comprised, or substantially comprised, of monodispersed crystals.
• the present slurry which usually has the viscosity of thick molasses, is poured into a firing container, usually a pan, with which the resulting cast body will not react, or not react to any significant extent, at firing temperature.
• a firing container usually a pan
• alumina containers are suitable.
• gold or silver containers usually are required.
• the firing containers are provided with loose fitting lids to prevent possible loss of any of the reactants, particularly lead, and to provide a more uniform firing atmosphere thereby promoting production of a more uniform fired product.
• an aligning magnetizing field is applied to the slurry to align, or at least substantially align, the (2122) crystals along their preferred axis of magnetization which is parallel to their "c" axis.
• the aligning magnetizing field ranges from about 7.96 x104 A/m (1 kiloersted) to about 7.96 x106 A/m (100 kiloersteds) and is determined empirically.
• the aligning magnetizing field is maintained on the slurry until the liquid is removed, usually by evaporating away, to form the present aligned cast body in the container.
• the liquid is removed, usually by evaporating away, to form the present aligned cast body in the container.
• such magnetic alignment and evaporation to form the cast body is carried out in air at about atmospheric pressure and at room temperature.
• the cast body is dry, or substantially dry, i.e. preferably it is free of liquid, or contains no significant amount of liquid.
• the cast body takes the form of the cavity of the firing container.
• the alignment of the (2122) crystals in the cast body should be sufficient to produce the present sintered body.
• the c-axis of the (2122) crystals are parallel or substantially parallel to each other and are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a surface of the cast body which, in one embodiment, comprises the pressing surface of the resulting intermediate product.
• the cast body is fired to produce an intermediate partly reacted sintered product.
• the cast body is fired to produce a preliminary bonded body.
• the heating rate of the cast body to the desired maximum firing temperature should be sufficiently slow to prevent any gas generated by thermal decomposition of any deflocculant residue from having a significant effect on the alignment of the (2122) crystals. Such heating rate is determined empirically and depends largely on the amount of deflocculant residue and the size of the body. Generally, the heating rate ranges from 20°C to 50°C per hour.
• the cast body initially is fired at a temperature ranging from 820°C to 830°C to produce a preliminary bonded body which has sufficient mechanical strength for sectioning, i.e. a body wherein the particles or crystals are directly bonded to each other. Such initial firing is not carried out long enough to produce a significant amount of the (2223) phase.
• the preliminary body is cooled, generally furnace-cooled, generally to room temperature, producing a preliminary solid porous body.
• the (2223) phase is not detectable in the preliminary body by x-ray diffraction analysis. Generally, the dimensions of the preliminary body do not differ significantly from those of the cast body.
• the c-axis of the (2122) bonded crystals are at least substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to a surface thereof.
• the preliminary body is sectioned to produce at least one section, usually a plurality of sections, each having a surface, i.e. its pressing surface, to which the aligned c-axis of the (2122) crystals are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular.
• the c-axis also are perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the surface opposite the pressing surface.
• the pressing surface and its opposite surface comprise the thickness of the section or product herein.
• the pressing surface of the section comprises the pressing surface of the resulting intermediate product.
• Sectioning is carried out to produce a section of desired size and shape.
• each section has two major opposed flat surfaces or faces wherein one such surface is the pressing surface.
• each section is in the form of a bar, rectangle, or square with a thickness ranging from .025 cm (.010 inch) to many cm (inches), frequently ranging from 0.25 cm (.1) to 0.64 cm (.25 inches).
• Sectioning can be carried out in a conventional manner, such as, for example, with a razor and hammer.
• Each section is enveloped, i.e. encapsulated, with silver foil, sheet, or a combination thereof.
• the foil and sheet are flexible at room temperature.
• the thickness of the foil is less than 0.013 cm (.005 inch), and the thickness of the sheet is less than 0.13 cm (.050 inch).
• the silver encapsulation should leave none of the section exposed, and preferably, it forms a hermetic seal.
• the silver encapsulation is permeable to oxygen. It provides a substantially uniform reaction atmosphere and prevents possible loss, or significant loss, of the reactants by evaporation, particularly lead. Also, the silver encapsulation prevents reaction of the section with the firing container thereby enabling the use of cheap firing containers, such as alumina, at any reaction temperature. The silver encapsulation does not react with the section, or does not react in an amount deleterious to the (2223). The silver encapsulation is pressure transmitting.
• the silver encapsulated section is fired in an oxidizing atmosphere at a reaction temperature ranging from 820°C to 860°C to react the reactants to convert (2122) to (2223) in an amount sufficient to produce a significantly dilated, i.e. swollen, intermediate partly reacted product.
• conversion of the (2122) crystals to the (2223) crystals results in growth of the (2223) crystals which causes dilation.
• a significantly swollen intermediate product is produced having an open porosity generally greater than 25% by volume and too large to produce the present sintered body.
• the (2122) crystals are converted to produce the (2223) phase generally in an amount ranging from greater than 20% to less than 70% by weight of the product.
• the particular amount of conversion should be sufficient to enable the production of a pressed product which undergoes no dilation, or no significant dilation in the final firing to produce the finally sintered reaction product.
• the resulting encapsulated intermediate product is cooled, generally furnace cooled, in an oxidizing atmosphere, generally to room temperature, producing a solid intermediate partially reacted sintered product.
• the c-axis orientation of the resulting (2223) crystals is substantially the same as, or does not differ significantly from, the c-axis orientation of the (2122) crystals.
• a uniaxial pressure is applied through the silver encapsulation directly to the pressing surface of the solid intermediate product.
• pressure is applied at room temperature and can be applied in a conventional manner, such as, for example, by means of a hydraulic press.
• the uniaxial pressure is applied parallel, or substantially parallel, to the c-axis of the (2223) crystals.
• the uniaxial pressure should have no significant deleterious effect on the c-axis alignment of the (2223) crystals and remaining (2122) crystals.
• the particular pressure applied is determined empirically. It should reduce the thickness of the intermediate product to produce a pressed product with a thickness which is the same as, and preferably which is less than, the thickness of the section before it is fired.
• firing to produce an intermediate product and application of uniaxial pressure to the resulting dilated intermediate product is repeated sufficiently to produce a final pressed intermediate product which can be finally fired to produce the present finally sintered reaction product.
• the extent of firing to produce an initial dilated intermediate product, the extent of firing of the resulting pressed intermediate product, and the number of such firings is determined empirically. Generally, in this embodiment, the firings are carried out until an intermediate product is produced which, when pressed, results in a final pressed product that can be finally fired at reaction temperature without undergoing significant dilation thereby enabling production of the present sintered body.
• the content of (2223) is increased by at least 1%, frequently by at least 5%, by weight of the product.
• the final pressed intermediate product contains (2223) in an amount of less than 70% by weight of the product.
• pressing of the intermediate product pushes (2223) crystals back into contact with remaining reactants and improves their alignment so that conversion of remaining (2122) to (2223) results in insignificant dilation with final firing.
• the resulting silver encapsulated final pressed intermediate product is fired in an oxidizing atmosphere at a reaction temperature ranging from 820°C to 860°C to produce the finally sintered reaction product wherein the superconductive (2223) phase comprises at least 90% by weight of the product, and generally ranges from 90% to 95% by weight of the product.
• the present reaction temperature for producing the intermediate product, for each successive pressed intermediate product, as well as for producing the finally sintered reaction product frequently ranges from 820°C to 840°C and preferably it is 835°C.
• the reaction temperature should be below the temperature at which a sufficient amount of liquid forms that segregates the reactants sufficiently to prevent production of (2223).
• the particular reaction temperature is determined empirically and depends largely on the composition of the reactants, i.e. the composition being fired.
• Reaction time for producing the intermediate product or products, as well as for producing the finally sintered reaction product is determined empirically. It should be sufficient to enable the production of the present reaction product containing (2223) in an amount of at least 90% by weight of the product. Generally, total reaction time ranges from 100 to 200 hours.
• the finally sintered reaction product is cooled in an oxidizing atmosphere, generally furnace cooled, generally to about room temperature, to produce the present superconductive (2223) sintered body.
• the sintered body has an open porosity ranging from 5% to 20% by volume of the body. Generally, it has no closed porosity, or no significant amount of closed porosity.
• open porosity it is meant herein pores or voids which are open to the surface of the sintered body, thereby making the interior surfaces accessible to the ambient atmosphere.
• closed porosity it is meant herein closed pores or voids in the sintered body, i.e. pores not open to the surface of the body and therefore not in contact with the ambient atmosphere. Porosity can be determined by standard metallographic techniques, such as, for example, optically examining a polished cross section of the body.
• the cooling rate of the fired products can vary provided it has no significant deleterious effect. Specifically, cooling should not be so fast as to cause thermal shock.
• the fired products are furnace cooled.
• the oxidizing atmosphere used throughout the present process i.e. the firing atmosphere and cooling atmosphere, is comprised of at least 1% by volume, or at least 20% by volume, of oxygen and the remainder of the atmosphere is a gas which has no significant deleterious effect on the products such as nitrogen or a noble gas such as argon or helium.
• the oxidizing atmosphere is air.
• the oxidizing atmosphere is at about atmospheric pressure.
• the present superconductive sintered body has a zero resistance transition temperature of greater than about 100K, preferably greater than about 105K, and frequently it ranges from about 105K to about 111K.
• the present sintered body is useful as a superconducting device such as, for example, a magnetic shield at low temperatures as well as a conductor for magnets, motors, generators, and power transmission lines.
• the dispersant used was an organic dispersant sold under the trademark Triton X-100.
• room temperature herein it is meant a temperature ranging from 15°C to 30°C.
• (2122) powder was produced according to U.S. Serial No. 07/399,197.
• a particulate mixture comprised of 100.09 grams of calcium carbonate, 295.26 grams of strontium carbonate and 159.08 grams of cupric oxide was wet milled in a two liter polyethylene jar with 3200 grams of 0.95 cm (3/8 inch) diameter dense zirconia media using distilled water as the milling fluid and a few drops of dispersant for three hours at room temperature.
• the resulting slurry was separated from the zirconia media and dried in air in an oven at from about 120°C to 150°C.
• the resulting powdered material had an average particle size which was submicron. It was placed in shallow, high density, high purity alumina ceramic boats to form a low bulk density powder bed roughly 1.0 to 1.5 cm in depth in each boat. Loose fitting alumina lids were placed on the boats.
• the material was heated in air at about atmospheric pressure to 750°C at a rate of 100°C per hour to protect the alumina boats from thermal shock, then to 925°C at a rate of 10°C per hour. It was maintained at 925°C for 48 hours and then furnace cooled to room temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis of the resultant product showed that the carbonates had completely decomposed to their respective oxides and that these oxides had reacted with themselves and the cupric oxide to form compounds and had also combined to form solid solutions. No appreciable amounts of the individual oxides was detected.
• the material was reacted by heating it to 850°C at a rate of 100°C per hour, maintained at 850°C for 44 hours, then furnace cooled to room temperature, all in air at about atmospheric pressure.
• the superconductive product was in the form of crystalline aggregates intermixed with the solidified alkali chloride solvent. It was retrieved by dissolving the alkali chlorides in distilled water, assuming a salt solubility of 20 g/100 ml; a period of 30 minutes was allowed for this process.
• the particulate superconductor, now free of the alkali chlorides, was collected on a filter, washed at room temperature with ten 300 ml aliquots of distilled water, and, finally, two 300 ml aliquots of absolute methanol. The superconductive material was finally air dried on the filter at room temperature at atmospheric pressure.
• the superconductivity of the aggregate powder was determined by a conventional technique, i.e. the AC Susceptibility Technique.
• This technique comprised using the powder as an active element in a L-C resonance circuit and measuring the resonance frequency as a function of the circuit's temperature.
• the transition temperature is that at which there is a larger than background increase in the resonant frequency.
• the powder was determined to have a zero resistance transition temperature of about 73K.
• an oxide product comprised of mole equivalents of Ca2Cu03 and Cu0 was produced.
• the resulting dried mixture was fired in air at 925°C for 48 hours and furnace cooled to room temperature.
• the resulting product was friable and ground with mortar and pestle to a flowable powder of about 40 mesh (U.S. Screen Size).
• the resulting milled dry particulate mixture appeared to be comprised of an intimate uniform mixture of the reactants. From other work, it was known that the (2122) material was comprised substantially of single crystals having an average length in their longest dimension of less than 2 microns and that the remaining reactants had an average particle size which was submicron. From other work, it was known that this was a sinterable mixture.
• the slurry was poured into a dense alumina pan residing in a 4.0 Tesla magnetic field and the heptane allowed to evaporate in the applied magnetic field at room temperature in air at about atmospheric pressure.
• the result was a cake of the reactants showing no evidence of constituent separation, but with cracks normal to the magnetic field direction, a characteristic previously found to indicate that the (2122) had aligned with its c-axis parallel to the applied field.
• the cake was lightly sintered in the alumina pan loosely covered with an alumina lid by heating it to 825°C at 50°C/hour, holding for 2 hours at 825°C, then furnace cooling to room temperature, all in an air atmosphere. There was sufficient shrinkage of the cake, without significant additional cracking, to allow it to fall out of the pan. Bar samples were cleaved from the cake using a razor blade aligned parallel to the existent cracks (and normal to the magnetic field direction). Each bar was about 0.64 cm (.25 inch) thick, 0.64 cm (.25 inch) wide, and 5 cm (2 inches) long. The c-axis of the (2122) were perpendicular to both major surfaces, i.e. opposite faces, of each bar. One of these faces comprised the pressing surface.
• One of the bars was then faced with 0.025 cm (0.010 ⁇ ) thick Ag sheet on the faces normal to the c-axes, then totally enclosed with 0.005 cm (0.002 ⁇ ) Ag foil, i.e. totally with about 2 layers of the foil.
• the resulting structure was then subjected to a firing step followed by a pressing step. Specifically, the resulting structure was placed in an open alumina pan and heated to 835°C at 50°C/hour, held at 835°C for 24 hours, then furnace cooled to room temperature, all in an air atmosphere. From other work done without the silver encapsulation, it was known that the resulting encapsulated partly sintered bar was significantly dilated, that its open porosity was greater than 25%, and that it contained (2223) in an amount of about 25% by weight of the bar.
• the structure was then pressed in a hydraulic press at room temperature. Specifically, a uniaxial pressure of about 48 mPa (7,000 psi) was applied to one of the faces of the bar, i.e. to the pressing surface, through the Ag encapsulation, for about 30 seconds. From other work done without the silver encapsulation, it was known that this pressing step removed the dilation and sufficient open porosity to produce a pressed bar before it was fired.
• each pressing step removed the dilation and sufficient open porosity to produce a pressed bar with a thickness less than that of the bar before it was fired.
• the encapsulated final pressed structure was heated to 835°C at 50°C/hour, held at 835°C for 100 hours, then furnace cooled to room temperature, all in an air atmosphere.
• the silver encapsulation was then removed.
• the resulting finally sintered bar had a thickness which was less than its thickness before its first firing. From other work, it was known that the finally sintered bar contained superconductive (2223) phase in an amount of at least 90% by weight of the bar. Also, from other work, it was known that the finally sintered bar had an open porosity greater than 10% but less than 20% by volume of the bar.
• the superconductivity of the resulting finally sintered bar was determined by a conventional technique, i.e. four probe resistivity measurement.
• the finally sintered bar i.e. the present sintered body, was determined to have a zero resistance transition temperature of about 107.5K.
• the resulting finally sintered bar was determined to have a zero resistance transition temperature of 108 K.
• the resulting finally sintered bar was determined to have a zero resistance transition temperature of 107 K.
• the resulting finally sintered bar was determined to have a zero resistance transition temperature of 105 K.
• the low transition temperature resulted from too low an amount of (2223) in the bar which was caused by not using an excess amount of the oxide product powder as required by the present process.

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